Tool-head locking device



Jun 18, 1940. I H. A. zEcKENDoiqF 2,204,643

TOOL-HEAD LOCKING DEVICE Fil ed June 19. 1939 IN V EN TOR BY I ATTORNEY Patented June 18, 140

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL-HEAD LOOKING DEVICE Hugo A. Zeckendori, San Francisco, Calif. Application June 19, 1939, Serial No. 279,813

I 2 Claims. (01. 306 -33) This invention relates to tools which are carried by a handle, and especially to means for locking the tool against accidental removal from the handle.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of tool head locking devices; to provide a lock or fastening device for axes, hatchets, hammers and like tools which employ a handle, said handle extending into or through a socket formed in the tool, and said fastening. device extending through the tool and handle, and

securing the tool in the handle; to provide afastening or locking device consisting of a locking plate and a longitudinally split two-part bolt, said lockin plate being held in the handle only, and the 0 parts of the bolt extending through the ha dle at right angles'to the plate on opposite sides thereof, and through the tool mounted in the handle; to provide solder or other thermally actuated material for securing the two parts of the bolt with relation to each other when inserted; and further, to provide a solder or sim'- ilar connection between the two halves of the bolt which may be readily sheared when removal of the tool from the handle becomes necessary.

The locking device is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a hammer and handle secured with relation to each other,

by the locking device forming the subject matter of this application;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the handle;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking plate;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the respective halves of the split bolt;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the tool and handle showing the locking plate and split bolt in position. I i

Referringto the drawing in detail, and particularly to Figs; 1 to 4, inclusive, A indicates a tool, in this instance a hammer head, which is provided with a socket substantially elliptically-shapedin cross-section to receive the end 2 of a handle B. Formed in the handle and extending crosswise thereof is a circular-shaped opening 3, the diametrically opposite sides of which are notched asshown at 4-.4, the notches being placed in the direction of the length of the handle. ing 3, and to extend into the notches 4-4, is

- a locking plate 5, and adapted to straddle said 'plate are the two halves 6-6 of a longitudinally split bolt. Each half is provided with a head member. I and a reduced end 8 and each half Adapted to be inserted in the open-- has pockets or depressions 9 formed in opposite ends, in which is placed solder or a similar fusible material. The halves of the boltare reversely arranged, the head member I of one half being located at the reduced end 8 of the other half. 5

This arrangement provides an opening in the bolt between the ends thereof to 'receive the locking plate 5. The tool head ,A, whether it gether with the plate 5 mounted therein is inserted in thesocket of the tool, plate 5 will be retained against displacement or removal, as it will engage the inner side walls of the socket. After the handle has been inserted and the openings'3 and I0 register, the two halves of the bolt are driven in from opposite sides of the tool. Their length is equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the tool, so that when they are inserted their ,outer ends will be flush with the surface thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. The soldercontaining pockets 99 will then register with each other, and by applying heat at the ends of the split bolt, the solder will be fused and the twohalf sections oi! the bolt will be secured with relation to each other. In this position, one head member will engage one side or end of the plate 5, and the other will engage the other side of the plate 5. The bolt is thuslocked against lateral movement with relation to the tool and the handle, and as the locking plate 5, is already locked by engaging the side walls of the socket,,all parts will be securely retained, and

' so will the toolfas it can not be removed from the handle until thetwo halves of the bolt are removed. This may be done if a new handle is to be fitted, and is accomplished by placing 4 a punch or like tool against the end 8 of either half of the pin. By giving the punch or similar tool a smart hammer blow, the .solder connections between the two halves of'the tool will be sheared, and each half of the bolt may be removed. The handle can then be driven out of the socket of the tool, and'a new handle can I Thus, while the two halves of the belt, together with, the locking plate, normally retain the tool against removal from the handle, they may be removed when necessity demands.

Accidental removal or release of the two halves of the bolt can not very readily take place, as the ends of the bolt are flush with the exterior surface of the hammer end or tool, and as such will not be struck or otherwise disturbed during normal operation of the hammer or tool.

Hence, accidental release of these parts need not be considered.

The locking device is exceedingly simple in construction and application. It is cheap to manufacture and apply; and above all, it insures safety, efiiciency and'economy in operation of tools of this character.

While certain features of my invetion, have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and finish of the various parts may be such as the manufacturer desires or various conditions or uses demand.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by handle which is solid beyond the transverse open- -2,2o4,e4s

ing "in the handle, a bolt ,split longitudinally into two halves'and extending through said openings in the tool and handle and provided with interiorly arranged registering pockets containing a material fusible by heat applied exteriorly to the bolt and interlocking the sections, and

movement of the bolt while the halves thereof are in their interlocked relation, the fusible material being adapted to be sheared off to enable either of the halves of the bolt to be driven out of the openings in the' tool and the handle by the application of suflicient force, whereby the tool and handle may be readilydisassembled,

2. In combination, a tool having a socket formed therein and provided at opposite sides of the socket with aligned transverse openings, a handle having its outer end fitting and inserted in said socket and provided with a transverse opening registering with the transverse openings in the tool and spaced from the outer end of the handle which is solid beyond the opening in the handle, a bolt extending through the openings in the tool and the handle and split longitudinally into two halves, each half being provided with a head member at one end and having its other end reduced, the halves of the and passing through the transverse opening in the bolt and arranged to engage the tool for holding the bolt against endwise movement.

. HUGO A. ZECKENDQRF'.

- means located in the opening of the handle and engaging the tool and the bolt for preventing 

